Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-02-12

am p0sltlve tnaC Qlo not. NOT long
after my departure, however, he found
it ajar, looked carelessly through the
rooms, saw that l was not there, and
locked it. Had he been more thorough
in his search he would doubtless have
saved me very strange experience.
''It was midnight when 1 returned to
my rooms. The gas was burning dimly in
in the sitting room, but the sleeping-room
beyond it was in total darkness. Opening
from the sleeping room was a large bath
room, and adjoining this was large
clothes closet. l locked the door as
usual, turned off the gas, and went to-
bed, as l frequently did, without strik-
ing light in the sleeping room or opens
ing the doors leading to the bathroom
and closet. was tired, o. and fell asleep
immediately.
''How long slept soundly l cannot
tell. ] am utterly unable to describe the
first sensations ! experienced. Dimly,
and afar off, heard Dick Munson's
voice, speaking as though in terrible
fear or from out an overpowering night.
mare.
"At first the sounds came to me like a
voice muffled by the walls of close
room, and conveyed to my mind no dis
tinct form of words. Bot the tone was
one of warning, and told me as plainly
as words could have done that was IN
deadly peril of some kind.
'After time the voice ceased, and I
heard, as plainly as l now hear the rum
bling of wheels outside, the rapping of a
private signal known only to Dick and
myself, and used only in the bank when
he desired to attract my attention to any
face or suspicious circumstance In front
Of his window. This was repeated sew
eral times. Then l heard the voice again,
clear and distinct this time, as though .
door or window had been opened in the
room from which it proceeded.
"There was no mistaking the words
this time. heard them over and over
dreams: LOCK the bathroom door!
can't get that slouching figure out of my
mindP With the words came a. feeling
which cannot describe, but which you
have, doubtless, all experienced-a SEN
sation of immediate personal danger
coupled with physical inability to con-
troll muscle to meet 1t.
''The words and the private signal al
ternated many times, and then heard
crash--such q crash as would follow the
falling of heavy window-sash.
''Absolue silence followed, and with
the silence came sense of physical de-
preston as though current of cleo
tr;city which had wrought my nerves to
their utmost tension had suddenly been
withdrawn.
II awoke instantly. When I say /
awokc, mean that l awoke to con
scicusness of the things Immediately
about me, for it is my belief that my
mental condition previous to that time
cannot be expressed or described by the
word sleep.
81 heard the City Hall clock strike
one, and tried to sleep again, but could
not do so. could think of nothing but
the slouchine figure 1 had seen early in
the evening on the outer edge of the
walk; founG it impossible to forget the
mysterious words warning me to lock
the bathroom doori
II should have got out of bed and
madc tour of the bathroom and closet,
only it occurred to me it would be
rather ridiculous thing to do. Men who
pride themselves on a practical turn of
mind dislin. to do ridiculous things,
even when alone Besides, notwith-
standing the effect produced upon me
by what had heard, regarded the mat
ter as an unusually clear cut dream, and
was net in the least alarmed. The longer
lay awake the more thoroughly did l
become convinced that the nervous sus-
picions of the paying-teller were alone
responsible for my losing good hour Of
sleep, and / resolved to make up for lost
time as soon as possible by turning over
for vnother nap.
'1f had not, as preliminary step to
the resolve so formed, raised myself in
bed and made great noise beating up
and rearranging my pillows, perhaps tho
most trying portion of that nights ex-
perience would have been spared me.
Be that as it my, the fact remains that
before had arranged my pillows to my
liking my attention was diverted from
my task by three rather starting objects.
''The first was dark-lantern pouring
its round red rays full in my face. The
second was an unusually long and un-
naturally bright self-cocking revolver To-
Gated within SIX inches of my nose. The
third was a particularly villainous face,
with thick, black eyebrows running to-
gether above the nose, forming no arch
to speak of, and producing the general
effect of straight, unbroken line cross
ing the lower foreheadl
"Was / frightened7 Yes; but ] scarcely
think my fright took the usual form. l
knew in an instant, as well as know
now, that it was not my life, nor the
trifling amount Of money he might find
in my room. that the intruder wanted.
recognized his presence there as part of
a ll-laid plan to rob the bank. The
intrudcr's first words confirmed my sus-
picions.
"'Get up and dress yourself, he said,
In whisper. we want you at the bank.
If you value your life, be quick about it,
and make no noise
"The mans arguments were unanswer-
able, aud obcyed
You are to go with me TO the bank
nc said, holding his weapon close TO my
head as | dressed, and open the vault.
frkn G~ak rwoe.-.A -. al -. nnoarno